BigFuzzball

We're now paranoid watching the others and have cleaned everything, brushed, sprayed, disinfected, sanitized soil & flooring but as they are 'free ranging' there are limits.Bottom line guys - please be aware, it's out there, I've not seen, heard of never mind had Mareks in my 11yrs of being owned by chickens.
Take care, will be back when it's not so raw and when we've decided whether to carry on.
John 6/6

The reason I've written this in full is to hopefully help you all be aware of this. Not sure if she had it when we bought her or whether it's the s***ty disease ridden wood-pigeons nesting in next doors 25ft tall conifers (no way to ever find out & our breeder/supplier is horrified as has never ever had any cases). 5/6

They said it sounded possibly like a simple injury - chubby chicken missing her landing.
Took her in yesterday, we had to sit in the car, they phoned to say despite her brightness & given her useless right leg & weak wing reflex now affecting her left, diagnosis was 'Mareks' !! Obviously right thing/kindest thing was to have them put her to sleep but we're all devastated as we'd only had her just over 3 months. 4/6

Yes it got worse with more sitting & sunbathing than foraging but apart from frustrating her & us, still 100% bright, eating/drinking, laying, 'answering & talking' to us all. Last week no attempt to stand and stopped laying, and this Tues she couldn't climb up the ramp to bed so was sat looking pitifully at me, resulted in us putting her to bed & getting her out early in the morning so we called the vets. 3/6

Over a week the limp got slightly more often/pronounced, still nothing when examined, was egg laying, the healthiest most voracious appetite and ran fastest for afternoon treats.......
Checked with breeder giving symptoms and her appearance etc, agreed possible sprain or strain (she was a chunky girl you could hear if not feel the thud as she jumped off things.
2/5

Am sure you'll all understand this, but am taking a few days away from 'social media'. We have had a poorly RIR chicken 'Ruby' for a few weeks now, started one morning as her occasionally 'limping' but no pain, no visible break or dislocation (checked her couple of times a day, reflexes, no bruises, no swelling etc).
1/5